Monday was a tough day for Irish rugby wingers.
It was confirmed that morning that Connacht's Mack Hansen would miss the Six Nations, his dislocated shoulder having required surgery which will see him ruled out for an extended period.
When the news first landed, thoughts immediately turned to Jimmy O’Brien. The versatile Leinster back had been next cab off the rank when it came to the Irish backfield in 2023. The 27-year-old had been one of the few players who excelled off the bench in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand in October.
As much as losing Hansen would be a blow, there was some comfort in the prospect of O’Brien getting a run in the first team for the Six Nations. Unfortunately for O’Brien and Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, the Leinster man’s Six Nations was also ended on Monday afternoon as Leinster confirmed a neck injury would see him spend "a number of months" on the sidelines.
Farrell is expected to name his extended squad for the Six Nations next week, and while there aren’t going to be sweeping changes from his World Cup group, a spot has become wide open in the back-three for someone to make their mark early in this World Cup cycle.
Hansen and O’Brien’s injuries, combined with Keith Earls’ retirement, have opened up at least three wing/full-back positions to be filled. The Ireland coach will be breathing sweet relief that James Lowe is finally set for a return to action either this week or next, with the left wing still yet to play since the World Cup quarter-final defeat to the All Blacks.
Here, we’ll look at some of the probables, the possibles, and even the wildcard back-three options that will be trying to catch Andy Farrell’s eye this weekend in the Investec Champions Cup.
The Probables
Calvin Nash
If you were to make a call right now, it’s likely Nash would be leading the race to take the 14 jersey for the Six Nations opener in Marseille.
Having earned a first Ireland call-up in 2022, Nash was part of the wider training squad for the World Cup in the summer and made his debut in the opening warm-up match against Italy at the Aviva Stadium.
The 26-year-old can play both wings and even started at full-back in the Champions Cup against Bayonne, but it’s the right wing where he looks at his best, making him an obvious candidate to slot into Hansen’s vacancy.
Nash has been in consistently strong form across the last 18 months, scoring 10 tries across the last season and a half, and with Munster's style of play seeing their wingers drift in off the touchline regularly to get involved in play, it’s quite similar to how Farrell uses Hansen.
Jacob Stockdale
After a couple of seasons ravaged by injury, it’s been comforting to see Stockdale find his try-scoring form again in this campaign, with six tries in just 10 appearances for Ulster so far.
While the 27-year-old recently dropped down from an IRFU central contract to a provincial deal with Ulster, it’s clear he’s still very much in Andy Farrell’s wider plans, having been included in last year’s Six Nations squad, as well as the extended training squad before the World Cup.
It’s coming up three years since the 37-cap international last played in the Six Nations, but his form for his province puts him in the mix for a return in 2024.
While he will almost certainly be in the squad, his chances of getting into the starting team will largely be dictated by James Lowe’s match fitness. It would be a surprise for Farrell to pick the left-footer on the right wing, while he’s also not likely to move Hugo Keenan out of full-back.
But with Lowe having such little rugby under his belt in recent months, it wouldn’t be a major shock to see Stockdale given a start in the 11 jersey in Marseille for the opener against France.
Jordan Larmour
Like Stockdale, Larmour was part of the Ireland Six Nations squad last January but didn't see gametime during the Grand Slam campaign, while he lost his place to Calvin Nash when it came to selection in the World Cup training squad.
The 26-year-old hasn’t won a cap since the summer of 2021, but he will be more than familiar with the Irish camp having been part of several squads over the last three seasons.
Capable of playing on both wings and at full-back if needed, Larmour has three tries in eight games for Leinster this season and is likely to start on the right win for their next two Champions Cup pool games before the Six Nations.
In terms of playing styles, Nash would appear to be a more natural fit with how Ireland’s wingers are used, but Larmour is still a natural finisher with 30 caps of Test experience.
The Possibles
Robert Baloucoune
Before Mack Hansen shimmied his way to the top of the Irish wing depth chart, it looked like Baloucoune was going to be the main challenger to the now retired Keith Earls and Andrew Conway.
Andy Farrell had been a fan of the Enniskillen flier, capping him in the summer Tests of 2021, before giving him another run in the Autumn against Argentina.
Injury saw him miss both the summer tour of New Zealand in 2022 as well as the Six Nations last year and that stuttering run of injuries ultimately saw him miss out on World Cup contention.
Now 26, Baloucoune has enjoyed a good run of fitness this season with nine appearances, but with just one try he hasn’t grabbed the attention like some of the other wing contenders.
Shane Daly
Daly and Nash have locked themselves in as Munster’s first choice wingers since the start of last season, and the 27-year-old has an outside chance of adding to the pair of caps he won back in the 2020/21 season.
The Corkman hasn’t been part of a full Ireland squad in recent seasons, but his appearances for Emerging Ireland and Ireland A in 2022 are proof that Andy Farrell is keeping an eye on his progress.
Daly was vital to Munster’s URC title last May and scored seven tries in 24 games for the province across that campaign, with the only games he missed being the three he was unavailable for while on Emerging Ireland duty.
Munster’s injury problems have seen him move back and forth between the left wing and full-back this season, and while he’s been capable in Mike Haley’s absence, he looks a far more dangerous threat in the 11 shirt.
Tommy O’Brien
After a long-term injury disrupted him last season, the former Ireland U20 captain started this campaign brilliantly with three tries in his opening three games.
A minor injury saw that form put on hold but after returning to action on New Year’s Day, the 25-year-old could give himself a puncher’s chance of getting into Six Nations contention if he’s included for Leinster this week against Stade Francais.
The Wildcards
While all of the above would do a solid job, this is the start of a World Cup cycle. A chance, perhaps, to experiment?
Simon Zebo has only played three games for Munster this season, but has looked sharp in attack for all three. Having been drafted into an Irish squad just after returning home in 2021, it’s been more than two years since Andy Farrell has had a look at the experienced wing/full-back. As exciting as a Zebo return would be, it seems unlikely that Farrell would bring a 33-year-old back in at the start of a World Cup cycle.
Had the timing been right, it could have been an opportunity to take a look at Diarmuid Kilgallen at Connacht, but a hamstring injury is set to lay the Kildare man up for a couple of months. In his place, South Africa-born (but Irish qualified) Shayne Bolton has impressed in his three appearances, both as a ball-carrier and in his ability under the high ball. It would be a bold call to throw him into the mix off such a small sample size, but Farrell’s decision to fast-track Mack Hansen shows he’s not afraid to bring someone into camp for a scouting mission at least.
And finally, Farrell may even have an option already in his squad. While Ireland are low on experienced wing options, they have more top-quality centres than they know what to do with. Garry Ringrose has been moved to the wing on occasion in games for Leinster and Ireland down the years and has always impressed. Seeing how he does out wide from the start, and opening up space for Stuart McCloskey or Robbie Henshaw in the centre, has its merits.
